Fire extinguisher and static arrester system for seed cotton precleaner



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1956 w. R. BRYANT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND swmc ARRESTER sys-TEM FOR SEED COTTON PRECLEANER Filed March 14, 1955 june 2S, 1955 w. R. BRYANT 2,751,630

FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND STATIC ARRESTER SYSTEM F'OR SEED COTTON FRECLEANER Filed March 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wfl/iam Bryant INVENTOR.

United States Patent O FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND STATIC ARRESTER SYSTEM FOR SEED COTTON PRECLEANER William R. Bryant, Jonesboro, Ark.

Application March 14, 1955, Serial No. 494,151

11 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) This invention constitutes a continuation-in-part of my prior co-pending application Serial No. 425,779, filed April 27, 1954, for an invention bearing the same title as that of the present application, and comprises novel and useful improvements in a lire extinguisher and static arrester system for seed cotton precleaners, and more specifically relates to a device for discharging controlled quantities of moisture into seed cotton entering the precleaner, in an improved manner for securing the precise and accurate control of the quantity of moisture introduced into the cotton, and for dissipating static charges upon the seed cotton for extinguishing res in a precleaner.

Throughout this specitication and claims the term moisture is used in its broadest sense being intended to include water in all forms, such as steam, fogs, atomized sprays and even liquid water; and to include other liquid treating agents.

It is generally recognized that a large proportion of the lires occurring in the equipment of cotton ginning plants originate in the drying and cleaning equipment thereof. It is also well known that the passing of the cotton fibers between and through the various cleaning and drying equipment of a ginning plant, especially when the fibers are in a thoroughly dried condition, tends to create static charges upon the fibers which greatly hamper the ow'of the fibers and also detrimentally aiect the performance of the fibers in the various fiber treating operation and equipment of the ginning plant.

It'is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a process and a means whereby the aforementioned detrimental objects, and which have been heretofore accepted as necessary evils by the cotton ginning industry, may be satisfactorily and completely overcome in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

Itis a further specific object of the invention to provide a process and a means for treating seed cotton with e moisture or other treating agents in a novel and highly supplyof moisture or treating agent may be applied tok attain the aforesaid objects; but wherein over moistening of the seed cotton may be safeguarded against.

A still further object of the invention is to provide aprocess and means whereby the aforesaid desired results and objects may be attained in a manner which will necessitate very little change in the structure of existing precleaners and in their modes of operation.

f And a final 'important object of the invention to be specically enumerated herein, resides in the provision of a process and a means whereby additional moisture -imeans 'of which the seed cotton is passed from roller-to'- ICC may be imparted to the moisture content of seed cotton to improve the physical characteristics and the value of such seed cotton.

These together with other objects and advantages which' will become subsequently apparent reside in the detalls of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 4the ac,

companying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: v

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing in vertical section a portion of a seed cotton precleaner and to which the principles of the present invention have been applied;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sectionline 2 2 of Figure l, the trash auger of the precleaner,

being shown in dotted lines therein;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the broken section line 3-3 of Figure l and showing the manner in.

section line 4 4 of Figure 3 and showing the relativeA arrangement of the nozzle of the spraying assembly with respect to the ilow of the stream of incoming seed cotton passing from the seed cotton air duct into the cleaning-V chamber of the precleaner;

Figure 5 is a view of the upper portion of Figure l, but showing a modified arrangement of the moisture producing device, relative to the seed cotton through the header of the cleaner assembly;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a still further modiiied arrangement of the moisture pro ducing means;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a still further modified arrangement and positioning of the moisture producing means; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view from the left hand portion of Figure l showing a still further modified arf.

rangement of the moistening means and wherein the moisture is introduced after the seed cotton leaves the precleaner in its liow toward the gin stands.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings,V and in particular to the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1-4, it will be observed that the number 10 designates generally any conventional type of precleaner for seed cotton the samev including a casing or housing having downwardly converging bottom walls 12, c'zonstitutinga'V trough for receiving trash and foreign matter cleaned from the seed cotton as set forth hereinafter, and at thel bottom of this trough there is conventionally disposed an auger or conveyor screw 14 which is also shown in, dotted lines in Figure 2, operated in the usual manner and by means of which trash falling into the hopper 12 will be discharged from the bottom of the same by the auger as through a discharge duct 16.

Extending across substantially the entire length of chamber in the upper portion of the casing of the pre-fcleaner 10 is a plurality of cleaning rollers, each of whichis designated by the numeral 18 and which are disposed in generally parallel arrangement and are operated in any usual and conventional manner.

It will be observed that in accordance with the usual] practice the cleaning rollers 18 are disposed in a generally:

parallel relation with respect to the auger 14, and these rollers are provided with the usual radially and longitudinally extending ribs or flights 20, see Figure V2, by

Patented June 26, 195,6

' to `its"lowerpportion, Yas.indicated.particularly injFigure 2l, the downwardly divergingedges of this stream being indichamber 22.

shake and Separate trash and foreign matter therefrom.

There is also provided the usual seed cotton air duct 20 by means :of which'the seed cotton is eonveyed'in a current of 'air from the drier, Vor from any other suitable source in Va stream of cotton and air for Vdelivery into the :upper portion or cleaning chamber, indicated generally by the numeral 22, ofthe -precleanen In accordance :with the usualpractice there is provided a partition 24 in the form of a screen, whose surface is closely con- 10 toured `to the bottom portions of the `cleaning rollers 18 as shown clearly in Figure l, in order that `the Astream of'seed cottondelilvered into the .cleaning vchamber may pass Ynoone end of thefcleaning chamber upon-theupper portions yof the cleaning' rollers; may then pass downwardly 15 about the end roller; and from thence may pass along Y the underside ofthe cleaning rollers and upon the ltop surface-'of vthe'screen Y2d to eventually be discharged through Ithedischarge opening :or outlet 26. .From the outlet 26, the seed cotton may pass. directly to the burr 20 extractor, not shown, but forming a well known and conventional element Lof the cotton cleaning equipment of aginning plant; and from thence may pass directly to the. usual feeders of the .gin stands; not shown. yor alternatively raould `be discharged into a cotton moistening de 25 vice of the'character disclosed and claimed in my prior co-pending application Seriall No. 419,783, filed March 39, 1954. A

Customariiy. theilow of seed cotton from duct 20 is directly discharged into the cleaningcharnber 22, 30 paasingthrough the chamber as aforesaid as is Vindicated'Y in VFigurel of these drawings, In the present invention, however, @process and a means is provided :whereby moisture may be applied to the seed cotton during its passage Y `from the duct ZilfintoV the cleaning chamber 22. For/that 35 purpose there is provided a Vheader 28 which preferably` ashousing Vofrectangular cross-section and which :extends Y' longitudinallyacross substantially vthe .entire width of the. 7 Vprecle'aner it), as will vbe best apparent from Figure 2.

In some' instances, this housing maybe a conventional. 40 element provided to connect the seed cotton duct 20 with thetcleaning chamber 22; while in other instances the same may be :operatively interposed 4between and connected to these elements in accordance withthis invention: In any event, theV air duct'20 usually communicates Y with the interior of the 'header or box 28 ata mid-portion of one sidewall `30 of the same, by means o f a port 3 2. j Y Parallel to the vertical side wall 30 is anopposite side wall 34 and the spaceV therebetween defines the vertical` 50 passage by which the horizontally moving stream of` seed cotton in Yair duct 20 is YturnedY downwardly andenters' thefcleaning chamber 20 through the openiugf entends through the top wall. 38 of dieprecleaner casingl and into-theheader 28. Y o Y 55 Since the interior of the header extends substantially 'the entire length of the precleaner casing, inforfder to` distribute the stream vof cotton over the entire length off A 'the cleaning rollers, and since the port 32 is locatedsub..

' stantially at the mid-pointV ofthe vertical wallstl'of the 60 headed-it is obviousthat the stream of cotton-entering f the'header will lilow verticallydownwardly in la'stream in which the cotton is progressively widenedffroni its upper cated lby' the Varrows in Figure 4.

.During this vertical downwardtravel of theistr-eamtof'i cotton,` it will be observed .that the :same is widenedandf Vinto a layer.' Also,vthere "tendsto 70 idispersal vof the v cotton at pointjdue to free fall in its vertical descent-into .the,cleaningf -iluaccordancefwith thisiivsntieu e moisture intestins means is rn'ovideiv :which kapplies .moisturejtorthe seed175 kaan Y M "i cotton at this particular location where the most advantageous results can be obtained.

yFor that purpose there is provided a moisture applying spray nozzle assembly whose construction is best shown t i0 having a plurality of spray nozzles 42 lcarried thereby.

These'spray nozzles extend through suitable openings or vertically elongated slots in the side Wall 34of the header 28 and are preferably disposed, as shown `in Figure l in a horizontal plane whichlies below the horizontal plane extending through `thefbottom of the air and'se'ed'rsupply duct 2t). The nozzles aredirectcd across the header 28 towards the incoming stream of seed cotton.

Moisture or other cotton treating agent is applied, preferably under pressure to the header 40 from any suitable source, not shown'and by the nozzles is directedgin a plurality of sprays Vto 'cause impingement of the Ysame upon the seed cotton during its .vertical descent through the header 28 into the cleaning kchamber 22. It will be observed that owing to the widened and Vthinned layer.V of seed cotton during such vertical descent, theV same is ideally .adapted to receive and absorb the moisture and to cause a homogeneous application Yof the latter to the' seed cotton, this particular location offering Vthe mostV effective and advantageous position'at which moisture suitable support in such manner that the Yheader mayben oscillated or rotated about itslongitudinal axis v its bearings 44 in order to vary the vertical inclination .of` the nozzles 42 in the vertical slots in the wall 34.y Y

vertical motion, as will be apparent .from inspectionof Figure 1 and Figur-e4, will vary-the'placeof impingementr of the nozzles upon 4the descending stream of cotton, and

owing to vthe varying width ofthe latter, Vwill thus vary' the portion of the width of the stream of the cotton which is treated by the moisture from the nozzles. Thus, if the nozzles are raised sulciently,f`only a portion of thesame will have their spray impinging upon :the ,stream of cote'` ton; whileif the nozzlesare lowered sulciently, the spray` from the same will not completely ,cover the entirey width ofv the stream of cotton.Y 'B y thslmeans the device;

can be adjusted to vary the position and `arcanithe stream 0f cotton upon which the moisture is impnged-Y In tion, vsuch vertical adjustment will ralso vat-Y the vdistaim@Y of the nozzles 'Y from the stream of cotton and Ythuspto someextent at least, -vary the extent ofpenetration of the;Y

stream of cotton by the spray and eonseqnentb' the proportion ofthe .moistening' of ithe cottonbygthe sprays.

As a further means for Vvarying vand controlling the amount of moisture applied to Vthe tcottom it s ontem, plated that the pressure applied to lthe header 40 ,may, he` varied in any` suitable manner to thus further effect j the'Y h the .same 1 quantity of moisture and the force with whic is applied to the seed cotton.

It is within the purview Vof this 'inventiodtoprovidei an automatic pressure regulator Vupon therheaderfll), as for example to maintain a uniform 3Q `lb. pressure therein orany other suitable pressure. i

liswdiagrammatically Vindicatedat 46 in Figure 3, ,'How

ever, whenever it is necessaryto extinguish a dre occurring in portion .of Athe seed cotton cleaningand :drying Y equipment, a lay-pass conduit 18 isuprovided'around the,V automatic vpu'essure control valve4 46,' which 'by-pass :con-fV duit is provided with a control valve 50 which fis adapted to beoperated from a remote station, by any suitable t means, whereby the rate .of flow. of .themoistu're and pressure may be immediately raised :to a .0.1"Y

jto Yany other desired value to thus substantially oodthe re `appearing therein. l

Suchautmatic Controlseed cotton 'with' moisture ,and 'thereby extinguish any1 It is also Within the purview of this invention to regulate the automatic control valve 46 by any suitable means; and particularly to correlate this control valve with the rate of feed of the seed cotton into the cleaning charnber, by any suitable means, not shown.

It should be observed that any moisture not absorbed by the stream of seed cotton upon which the spray from the nozzle assembly directly impinges, will pass with the incoming seed cotton and air to the cleaning chamber 22, and will pass from the stream of seed cotton disposed beneath the cleaning rollers 18 and above the strainer 24. This excess moisture will then be drawn through this last mentioned stream of cotton, further imparting moisture thereto, and the residue of this excess moisture Will then be educ'ted with the air discharge from the precleaner through the air discharge duct 52 forming a conventional element of the precleaner.

It will be readily recognized that certain of the principles of this invention are not limited to application to a precleaner, but also mayY be applied in various other mechanisms in which cotton is passed and handled in a iiowing stream of loosely associated particles.

In the preceding embodiment it will be observed that the nozzle means for introducing moisture into the seed cotton upon its discharge through the port 32 into the header 28, was located below the port 32 on the opposite wall 34 of the header and was directed in a horizontal direction towards the falling stream of cotton. It may, however, be desirable from the standpoint of expediency land by reason of mechanical purpose to position the spray nozzle assembly at slightly different locations, while still directing the stream of moisture toward the free owing seed cotton and for impingement upon the latter during its free fall. A variety of such modied arrangements are shown in Figures -7, in all of which the moisture is applied in a similar manner.

Thus, in the modied arrangement of Figure 5, the manifold assembly 40 has its supporting journals 44 secured upon the top wall 33 of the header 28 or upon a supporting bracket 60 extending laterally from the same and if desired upon the side wall 34 of the header. The nozzles 42 of the spray assembly preferably extend through the slots 62 extending transversely of a top wall 33 in such a manner as to direct the spray thereof downwardly and slightly transversely of the header whereby the spray will impinge upon the free falling downward stream of seed cotton as the latter passes into the header. It will, of course, be understood that the spray device may be of the character described in detail in connection with Figures l4, and is controllable and adjustable in accordance with the description of that form of the inven` tion.

A still further alternative arrangement of the spray device is shown in Figure 6 wherein the spray nozzles 42 of the assembly which is carried upon the side wall 34 of the header extend through slots 64 formed in the side wall, `adjacent the top thereof. In this arrangement the nozzles are disposed in the side wall 34 but are above the inlet port 32 of the duct 20 whereby the spray will be directed downwardly and across the header for impingement upon the free owing stream of cotton discharged from the port 32.

In the further modification of Figure 7, it will be seen that the spray nozzles 42 are positioned within the upper portion of the chamber 22 and below but adjacent to the discharge port 36 by which the header communicates with the interior of the chamber 22 of the precleaner. The nozzles are directed upwardly and into the header for impingement upon the free flowing seed cotton either within the header, within the chamber 22 or both, this latter position being indicated in Figure 7. As in the preceding embodiments, it is of course possible to provide angular adjustment of the nozzles 42 by rotating the manifold 40 within its supporting journals 44 to 6 thereby vary the angle of the impingement of the moisture upon the cotton. j l

Although the previously described arrangements of Figures l-7 are generally preferable, it is also possible toV obtain some of the benets of this invention by applying the moisture to the seed cotton after the latter leaves the precleaner and during its travel toward the gin stands. Thus as in Figure 8, the nozzles 42 carried by the rotatably adjustable manifold or pipe 40 which in turn is mounted -in the journals 44, is mounted upon any suitable portion of the framework 70 and adjacent the outlet 26 of the precleaner assembly 10. Indicated at 72 is the seed cotton which upon being discharged from the' outlet 26 drops freely or along a chute or apron, not

shown, in the relatively thin stream during its passagefrom the precleaner toward the gin stands. The nozzle assembly is positioned so that the sprayrfrom the nozzles 42 may be caused to impinge upon the free falling stream of seed cotton 72, preferably closely adjacent to itsemergence from the discharge opening 26. It is of course understood that the nozzles 42 may be adjusted by rotation about the axis of the conduit 40 asin the preceding embodiments whereby to vary the angle of impingement of the spray upon the falling seed cotton; and also the length of travel ofthe moisturev spray from the nozzles 42 to its impingement upon the seed cotton.

The foregoing embodiments all illustrate various advantageous positions and manners in which the moisture may be caused to impinge upon the free falling seed cotton. The common, fundamental and essential principles of this invention, and extending throughout each of the above described modifications, is that the moisture is sprayed upon the seed cotton when the latter is in a relatively thin free falling stream, in which condition the seed cotton is adapted to most eiciently absorb the moisture. Further, the moisture is injected across the stream of air conveying or accompanying the seed cotton, or when it is discharged from the precleaner, which air stream may be relied upon for eectively removing the surplus of moisture or that which is desired to impart into the seed cotton fibers, in order to leave a resultant predetermined total moisture content in the cotton iibers.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A precleaner for seed cotton having an entrance opening into a cleaning chamber adjacent the top thereof, means for conveying seed cotton and air in a relatively narrow stream from a source of supply, means for passing the cotton and air from said stream downwardly in a relatively widening stream and with free fall through the entrance opening and into the cleaning chamber, means for impinging moisture upon said widening stream during said free fall.

2. The combination of claim l including means for varying the angle and place of the impingement of the moisture upon the seed cotton during the free fall of the widening stream.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for impinging moisture directs said moisture across said widening stream and in an upwardly inclined vertical direction.

4. The combination of claim l wherein said impinging means directs moisture across the widening stream of seed cotton and in a downwardly inclined direction.

5. The combination of claim l including means for varying the distance of travel of the moisture from the V7 irnpinging means toitsimpingementlupon the widening stream of seed cotton. n Y

`6. A precleaner VforV seed cotton comprising acasin'gto which seed cotton is-delvered from'a dryer by a delivery duet, a plurality ofc-'cleaning lrolls adapted to successively V,handle seed `cotton from said delivery duct for cleaning foreign matter therefrom, said casing having a header communicating Vtherewith andjextending,longitudinally of the cleaning rollersand into which the discharge port ofk said `duct communicates, a nozzle spray assembly lassociated with said header forfdirecting a spray of fluid in V said yheader towards. the discharge port and across the streamY ofzair and cotton ,passing `through the header Vfrom/the port to said `cleaning rollers.

7. In asced cotton precleaner, in combination, a header Y having Vatt-,opening for delivering seed cotton bygravity fall into 2 precleaner, said header having a port for receiving seed cotton therein from an air duct, said header comprising a chamber extending from both sides of said port,

Y meansV in said header for directing aspray of moisture upon a stream of free falling seed cotton passing from saidport through said opening. Y n

8. The combination of c1aim'7 wherein said means for spraying is mounted in said header in opposition tosaid port and is positioned below said port.

9. A process for dssipating static charges and rextinguishing lires in a precleaner for seed cotton comprising' y.moving the seed cotton astream towards the eleanf ing elements of Aa ,precleanen causing the impingement of moisture @on said `rstream in sn'ficient@dant-ityYY to disspatestatc and extinguish tires, the movement `of the seed cotton `in said Y`stream including passing the seed cotton downwardly in 'a Ysubstantially'verticaldirection,-

the moisture being movedrsubstantially inra vhorizontal direction during its impingemen-t upon the vertically `movingcotton, said stream of seed cottoninY itsY vertical Inove-4 rnent being progressively widened as it descends thereby spreading and thinning the stream, said moisture `impinge? ment being across Ysubstantially the entire Width of the' widened and thinned :portion of therstream. l

10. The process of clairnr9rinc1uding 'the step Vofviry-l ingthe area and 'location of the moisture impingement upon the stream.

l1. The combination of claim 6 wherein Vsaid nozzle;

spray assembly is disposed in the chamber of thek pre-l cleaner and projects its spray Vupwardly liuto the header and towards saidport. Y Y

ReferencesKCited the file of this patent 

